Prosecutor asks 19 years of freedom deprivation for Talysh activist Abilov

Today, the trial at the Lankaran Court of Grave Crimes continued via videoconference. Abilov and his advocates took part in the hearing remotely from Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison); the state prosecutor and judges were in the courthouse in Lankaran. Two witnesses were also questioned there – Gilal Mamedov and Irada Melikova, Fariz Namazly, one of Abilov's advocates, has reported.

According to the advocate, despite the fact that the witnesses were summoned by the prosecution, they testified in Abilov’s favour, stating their confidence in his innocence.

"After the witnesses’ speeches, the judges began to rush the case to completion. The document examination stage was conducted; and the state prosecutor was immediately given the floor for the closing speech. We, the advocates, have objected – we asked for time to prepare written motions regarding the documents examined, since their legality was questionable. And we pointed out the inappropriateness of such haste. We also put forward an oral motion to call the expert who conducted the authorship examination. The case files contain some Internet material, which, as they assert, contains calls for ‘inciting ethnic hatred.’ Another name is under the text, but the examination came to the conclusion that the material was prepared by Abilov," Mr Namazly has explained. The motion was rejected. Then, the prosecutor spoke and asked the court to sentence Abilov to 19 years of freedom deprivation. The next hearing will be held on May 12.

Fariz Namazly has emphasized that the defence will insist on an acquittal, since during the trial no reliable proofs Abilov's guilt were presented.

"Judges and prosecutors didn’t talk to me like that"

Gilal Mamedov, a board member of the Public Council of Talysh People of Azerbaijan, who testified at the trial as a witness, complained about the rude behaviour of one of the judges. "My testimony given during the preliminary investigation was read out at the trial. I said that I knew Igbal Abilov as a young scientist, researcher and teacher. His studies concerned not only the Talysh people, but also other nationals living in the region. As part of his scientific work, he maintained contacts with scientists from different countries. I myself suggested him some topics related to the folklore, history and culture of the Talysh people. The presiding judge asked what I could add to the testimony during the investigation. I expressed my conviction in Igbal’s innocence. I said that Igbal is a patriot of Azerbaijan. Such prominent members of the intelligentsia should not be in jail; they should be free to continue their scientific studies. One of the judges, Neimat Mamedov, began interrupting me; he was rude, addressed me informally, saying: ‘Don’t blabber here and get out of here.’ When I said that I would complain about him, he replied: ‘Go complain wherever you want!’ I myself was subjected to unjustified criminal prosecution, but even then judges and prosecutors didn’t talk to me like that,” Mr Mamedov has stated, noting that he intends to file a complaint against the judge with the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 2, 2025 at 08:34 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.